Cowboys And Angels

Chapter 17

Jack felt sick, he almost didn't sleep at all that night... He occasionally would look over at John who slept soundly, how could he sleep so well!? He was cheating on his mother! He had to be dreaming... He had to be. If this were true, it would break his mother's heart and shatter his already fragile family... He actually jumped when his father reached over and gently shook him awake.

"Whoa, are you alright?" John asked.

"Y-Yeah I was just... Dreaming." Jack muttered, averting John's gaze, noting John was already dressed.

"Well, it's time to get going, I let you sleep as long as you could but you gotta get up now." John said casually.

His father was up already..? Was he seeing Miss MacFarlane..? Jack felt nauseous but he didn't say any more, he just sat up without arguing, watching John walk out of the shack. He dressed, still replaying the events over and over again in his head of the previous night. His dad dancing with Miss MacFarlane... Kissing her.

Jack swallowed and walked out of the guest house as John rolled up the Bison hides, John looked over and nodded.

"We can make better time since we don't have all the weight of the meat on the horses." John explained.

"... Gonna say goodbye to Miss MacFarlane..?" Jack asked, narrowing his eyes slightly at John as he mounted his horse.

"She ain't up, besides, waking pregnant women is certain death." He chuckled in good-humored as he mounted Harlow. "We'll see them on our way back, we gotta pick up the meat we're taking home." He mentioned and looked to the exit of the ranch. "We should go, it'll take us probably another two days anyway, we'll stop in Chuparosa for a little rest." He stated as John began leading them off the MacFarlane's Ranch.

The ride was silent, John noted a shift in attitude but he couldn't put his finger on it, but Jack didn't say anything was wrong...

"Pa, how long have you known Miss MacFarlane?" Jack suddenly asked, John was happy to see that Jack was engaging in conversation.

"A while, around six months." John replied casually, there was a small pause.

"Then how do you not know who got her pregnant?" Jack asked.

"I just said she ain't married." John replied, getting a bit uncomfortable.

"So you do know?" Jack inquired.

"Is this an interrogation, boy?" John joked slightly as he looked over expertly changing the subject, Jack cleared his throat.

"N-No... I was just curious." Jack muttered.

"Why? You got a crush on her?" John asked in a slightly amused fashion.

"No... Do you?" Jack asked back, the question nearly slapped John in the fash and he gawked over at his son.

"Why would you ask me that?"

"Well... Ya'll were looking at each other all funny that's all..." Jack murmured.

"Well, to answer your question, no. I like her, she's a nice woman and she saved my life but I'm married to your mother, got that?" John asked seriously, Jack's heart plummeted into his stomach as John's heart sped up with nerves, perhaps he and Bonnie weren't subtle enough.